The Teacups of whom the least has been heard at our table are the Tutor and the Musician.  The Tutor is a modest young man, kept down a little, I think, by the presence of older persons, like the Professor and myself.  I have met him several times, of late, walking with different lady Teacups:  once with the American Annex; twice with the English Annex; once with the two Annexes together; once with Number Five.

I have mentioned the fact that the Tutor is a poet as among his claims to our attention.  I must add that I do not think any the worse of him for expressing his emotions and experiences in verse.  For though rhyming is often a bad sign in a young man, especially if he is already out of his teens, there are those to whom it is as natural, one might almost say as necessary, as it is to a young bird to fly.  One does not care to see barnyard fowls tumbling about in trying to use their wings.  They have a pair of good, stout drumsticks, and had better keep to them, for the most part.  But that feeling does not apply to young eagles, or even to young swallows and sparrows.  The Tutor is by no means one of those ignorant, silly, conceited phrase-tinklers, who live on the music of their own jingling syllables and the flattery of their foolish friends.  I think Number Five must appreciate him.  He is sincere, warmhearted,—­his poetry shows that,—­not in haste to be famous, and he looks to me as if he only wanted love to steady him.  With one of those two young girls he ought certainly to be captivated, if he is not already.  Twice walking with the English Annex, I met him, and they were so deeply absorbed in conversation they hardly noticed me.  He has been talking over the matter with Number Five, who is just the kind of person for a confidante.

“I know I feel very lonely,” he was saying, “and I only wish I felt sure that I could make another person happy.  My life would be transfigured if I could find such a one, whom I could love well enough to give my life to her,—­for her, if that were needful, and who felt an affinity for me, if any one could.”

“And why not your English maiden?” said Number Five.

“What makes you think I care more for her than for her American friend?” said the Tutor.

“Why, have n’t I met you walking with her, and did n’t you both seem greatly interested in the subject you were discussing?  I thought, of course, it was something more or less sentimental that you were talking about.”

“I was explaining that ‘enclitic de’ in Browning’s Grammarian’s Funeral.  I don’t think there was anything very sentimental about that.  She is an inquisitive creature, that English girl.  She is very fond of asking me questions,—­in fact, both of them are.  There is one curious difference between them:  the English girl settles down into her answers and is quiet; the American girl is never satisfied with yesterday’s conclusions; she is always reopening old questions in the light of some